When you talk with Tsugaru people, you will know how special Mt Iwaki is to them.

Mount Iwaki is a 1,625-metre-high volcano located in Hirosaki City and is known as the highest peak in Aomori Prefecture. Also known as ‘Tsugaru Fuji’ because of its beautiful appearance, Mt Iwaki’s face changes dramatically depending on which angle you view it from and which season you see it in. The people of Tsugaru each have a favourite Mount Iwaki in their hearts, which they also affectionately call ‘Oiwaki-san’. The reason for this is somewhat obvious once you see it. No matter how hard or happy you are, if you look up, the ridge line will always be there. The mountain shows us its seasonal expressions: cherry blossoms in spring, greenery in summer, autumn leaves in autumn and snow in winter. It may be the first philosophy they encounter in their life. At the foot of Mount Iwaki, a hotel with a triangular roof opened in 2024.

Located in the Hyakuzawa district of Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, OTTABIO is a hotel offering a special accommodation experience limited to one couple per day. Surrounded by the beautiful nature of Mount Iwaki, guests visiting the hotel can spend a special time connecting deeply with the local culture and nature. Owner Mikami Mimu is originally from Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, and studied at a university in Switzerland, where the hotel school is renowned. She then worked and studied as an intern in hotels in Costa Rica and Mexico, before working in luxury hotels in Kyoto and Hiroshima before making a U-turn to Aomori in 2021. In Costa Rica, especially during her internship, She was greatly influenced by the SDGs ideas of local production for local consumption, non-use of plastic, and creating and giving back jobs in the region. She says that as she welcomed such guests, who were interested in the local products and understood their intrinsic value, the image of the hotel she wanted to create in her home town of Hirosaki became more and more concrete and strong. Then, in April 2024, she opened a hotel that makes the most of the region’s natural and tourism resources, renting out a whole building. Her vision is to provide an inn where guests can refresh themselves physically and mentally in the tranquil Aomori environment, and the interior design incorporates local furniture and crafts, emphasising the experience of guests connecting with the local area. At the hotel, guests can opt for tours to Mount Iwaki and the Shirakami mountain range with a full-time guide, and breakfast around a bonfire, using maple syrup from the neighbouring mountains.

The interior of the inn is simple but warm, with vintage Scandinavian furniture and accessories scattered throughout. A few flowers casually displayed in the rooms add a seasonal touch. The kitchen is also equipped with a variety of cooking utensils, traditional crafts and tableware, including Tsugaru-nuri, Tsugaru-yaki and Tsugaru-biidoro, so you can enjoy cooking without worrying. In the morning, there is also freshly ground coffee from a glass coffee mill.

Amenities are also carefully selected and locally produced, including Yukinoki Snow Foam Soap, Shirakami Lactic Acid Bacteria Facial Sheet Mask and Aomori Hiba Multi Spray Bath Milk. Bathrooms are of course available in the hotel, but a visit to the neighbouring Happy Hyakuzawa Onsen is also recommended, a retro hot spring that was recently reopened in 2024 and is characterised by its hot water. The ceiling paintings by GOMA in the main bathroom are also a highlight.

Guided tours by local people, an experience that combines nature and culture.

The cool air in the forest. The sound of a small mountain stream flowing by the hotel. The autumn leaves just starting to change colour.

The fact that there are no TVs or convenience stores nearby allows you to listen carefully and focus on the here and now. Perfect for concentrating on work or relaxing with the family without any worries.